ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Kerem Tunceri scored a game-winning lay-up as Turkey edged out Serbia 83-82 to set up a showdown with the USA in Sunday’s final of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
 
Hosts Turkey make it through to the tournament’s decider for the first time and are assured of taking their first ever medal in the event.
 
Down 82-81 with 4.3 seconds to play, Bogdan Tanjevic’s men inbounded the ball to Hedo Turkoglu, who lost control on the left wing, but Tunceri got to the ball first and was a step ahead of the defenders as he drove hard to the hole for the biggest basket of his career.
 
Serbia had 0.5 seconds left and opted for a lob to Novica Velickovic, but his attempt was deflected as time ran out.
 
The defeat means Dusan Ivkovic’s team will go up against Lithuania in the Bronze Medal game.
 
Tunceri was clutch in the fourth quarter. With Turkey down 75-71 and a little over four minutes left to play, he scored five consecutive points to edge them in front and make a game of it.
 
The point guard drove to the basket and then buried a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor.
 
A free-throw shooting contest then ensued.
 
Omer Onan made a pair to stretch the hosts’ lead to 78-75, but Serbia got within 78-77 as Dusko Savanovic sank two of his own with 1:37 left to play.
 
Milos Teodosic then fouled Omer Asik hard and the big man left the game holding his face, seemingly getting swiped around his right eye area. Ender Arslan was subbed in for him and took the free-throws in his place, hitting one of two for 79-77 with 1:17.
 
Krstic split a pair from the charity stripe just inside the final minute. Marko Keselj was fouled with 28 seconds to go when he skied high for a rebound off a Teodosic miss and  sank both foul shots to edge Serbia back in front 80-79.
 
Tunceri ran down the clock and drove the lane, sucking in the defense before feeding Semih Erden for a dunk and a foul with 16.8 seconds to go.
 
The big man missed the free-throw and at the other end Aleksandar Rasic passed it to Novica Velickovic for a lay-up and an 82-81 lead with 4.3 seconds to go.
 
That though proved to be enough time for Turkey to perform one last miracle.
 
The game was close for the most part but Serbia were in the ascendancy until Tunceri went on his mini run.
 
Serbia were up 15-8 on Novica Velickovic’s three-pointer before Turkey ran off seven straight points to tie it at 15.
 
Teodosic took over at the end of the first quarter to give Serbia a 20-17 lead.
 
Sinan Guler converted a three-point play that cut the deficit to 26-25 early in the second period before Savanovic went on a personal 7-0 run to push Serbia’s advantage to 33-25.
 
It was 35-31 when Arslan buried a three-pointer, but Keselj then sank one of his own for 38-31.
 
Nenad Krstic and Keselj made it a 42-35 score as the teams headed to the locker room.
 
Semih Erden converted a three-point play to start the second half and Onan later dialled in from beyond the arc to tie the game at 46.
 
Teodosic racked up the assists – he finished with 11 – as he fed Aleksandar Rasic for an easy two inside and Keselj for an open three in an 8-0 spurt that pushed Serbia’s advantage to 54-46 midway through the third period.
 
Arslan connected from long range and Gonlum made a free-throw to cap a 7-0 run that got the hosts within 56-55.
 
Keselj and Arslan traded long bombs and Gonlum trimmed the deficit to 62-60. However, he then fouled Savanovic who made one of two attempts from the foul line as Serbia went into the final frame up 63-60.
 
Krstic picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter but stayed in and made a pair of free-throws for a 65-61 advantage.
 
Turkoglu entered the game as Ilyasova picked his fourth foul and made his presence felt right away as he hit a three-pointer that got Turkey within 66-64.
 
Teodosic found Keselj for another clutch three-pointer that made it 69-64 with 6:32 to play.
 
Teodosic buried another long bomb and Kerem Tunceri answered with one of his own at the other end.
 
Savanovic put his team up 75-69 before Asik scored on a putback and Tunceri then went on his personal 5-0 run to edge Turkey back in front.

Team USA's 89-74 triumph over Lithuania meant a lot for USA star Kevin Durant and not just because the result put his country into the FIBA World Championship Final for the first time since 1994.

Durant, who had a game-high 38 points - 17 in the first quarter - was just happy to have won on a day that has become very important for all Americans.

The game was played on September 11.

"To be playing in another country and playing for your country on a great day like this, which was tough for our country in 2001 when the towers fell, it's truly an honor and a blessing," said Durant to FIBA.com.

"I'm just happy we won."

Durant has been the superstar of a Team USA that has none of the players from the gold-medal winning side at the Olympics.

They have thrived.

What makes it work?

"Our mind set," said the 21-year-old Durant. "We know that every game is important, we respect every opponent. We are just playing together, everybody here is one. There's no guy that is better than the other, there are no egos here and that's the major thing."

Durant has averaged 22.1 points per game and his total against Lithuania set a new American single-game record at the FIBA World Championship.

Carmelo Anthony held the mark previously with 35 against Italy in 2006.

"I'm just trying to be aggressive," said the Oklahoma City Thunder star. "I've been working a lot this summer. I'm just trying to showcase my skills. I'm just happy to be a part of this great group and these great group is only making me better."

As for whether USA can take that final step tomorrow, Durant is confident they can do so for the first time since 1994.
"To be in the gold medal game it's truly an honor and a privilege," he said. "We just have to go out there and play our hardest. We are looking forward to going out there and trying to bring the gold back to the US. It's going to be a tough game for us no matter who we play but I think we are up for the challenge."

Whatever happens tomorrow, Durant, who is playing in his first FIBA World Championship, has enjoyed every minute.
"It's been overwhelming," he said. "It has been a lot of fun, the competition here is unbelievable. The physical play is tough. I'm just happy to be here."